Incidence and local risk factors of infection after anterior sub-axial cervical spine surgery: retrospective database analysis of 4897 consecutive procedures.

INTRODUCTION

The anterior cervical spine approach is safe and effective in many cervical spine pathologies. It is considered one of the most common approaches in spine surgery. Postoperative infections after anterior cervical surgery are rare but serious.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study is a retrospective database analysis. In this study, the incidence, and the local risk factors of postoperative infection after anterior-only sub-axial cervical spine surgery in a high-volume spine center were analyzed. The data of patients operated in a teaching hospital is electronically stored in a comprehensive medical database program. Postoperative infection after anterior cervical surgery from C2 to C7 was calculated and analyzed. In the study period, 4897 patients were operated. Twenty-four infections after a primary aseptic operation were detected. Independent local risk factors were estimated.

RESULTS

Postoperative infection occurred in 24/4897 patients (0.49%). The incidence of infection after cervical trauma was 3% (7/229), after spinal cord injury 4.3% (2/46), with myelopathy 1.98% (11/556), and after revision surgery 1.25% (7/560). The incidence showed a significant increase (p = 0.00, 0.01, 0.02). In 14 of the postoperatively infected patients (58.3%) an oesophageal injury was diagnosed. Odds ratios (OR) with a confidence interval (CI) of 95% was calculated. Independent risk factors for the postoperative infections were: Cervical trauma (OR 8.59, 95% CI 3.52-20.93), revision surgery (OR 3.22, 95% CI 1.33-7.82), The presence of cervical myelopathy (OR 6.71, 95% CI 2.99-15.06), and spinal cord injury (OR 9.33, 95% CI 2.13-40.83).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative infection after anterior cervical surgery is low (0.49%). In addition to the general risk factor for infection, the local risk factors are trauma, myelopathy, spinal cord injury, and revision surgeries. In the case of postoperative infection, an oesophageal injury should be excluded.